Parachute



y 1944- 'J. H. ROBINSON 2,349,833

PARACHUTE Filed May 15, 1941 INVENTOR ATT RNEYS Patented May 30, 1944PARACHUTE James H. Robinson, Dover, N. J. Application May 15, 1941,Serial No. 393,559

(Granted under the act of March a, 1883, as amended April so, 192s; 370o. G. 157) 8 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government for me of any royalty thereon.

This invention pertains to parachutes and has particular reference torelatively small parachute canopies for use in military pyrotechnics.

Heretofore parachutes have been constructed of tapered sectors ofmaterial which were assembled and stitched together to form amultisection canopy. These stitched ribs reinforced the canopy and theirends served as convenient points to attach the shrouds. This method orconstruction involved many steps, was slow and expensive and the shroudattachment portions were not sufficiently sturdy.

Objects of the invention are to produce a canopy which can bemanufactured more economically and provide strong means for anchoringthe shroud lines thereto.

A complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying draw-' ing, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a partly opened canopy, stays, and thesuspension cord.

- Fig.' 2 is an enlarged, detailed view showing one manner of anchoringa shroud to the canopy.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2'.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of another canopy construction.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a canopy pattern employing radialreinforcement.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a modified assembly of the canopy edgeand shroud attachment.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a further modification of a canopy reinforcement and shroudattachment.

In the drawing, a partially opened canopy iii of paper or other lightmaterial has a plurality of shrouds Il depending therefrom. Theseshrouds II are collected a convenient distance below the center of thecanopy I 0 and tied to a suspension cord l2 by a square or othernon-slipping knot 13. Pyrotechnic or other devices (not shown) may besuspended by a suitable length of the cord l2 below the canopy Hi.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a unitarypiece of paper or other material of circular or polygonal shape isfolded in such a manner as to produce a number of radial pleats H.(Figs. 1 and 5.) The rows of pleats I! are then stitched longitudinallyas at 15. These pleats H may be composed of single governmentalpurposes, without the payment to I ill or multifolds according to thedegree of reinforcement which is desired to beattained. The number ofpleats selected for a particular canopy is governed by the shape andsize of the canopy. a

The peripheral portions l6 of the canopy Ill at the zone ofreinforcement are then shaped by gathering and crumpling as at I I andattenuated to form a cord-like tail [8. The tail I8 is bent to form abight l9 and a shroud line it may be tied by a suitable, non-slippingknot. Fig. 2 illustrates the use of a sheet bend knot.

Rows of non-radial, arcuate stitched pleats 2U may be employed as analternative construction.

A plan view of such a canopy p ttern is shown in. Fig. 4. This designlikewise provides adequate reinforcement for the shroud connections.

In another modification (Figures 6 and 7), shroud lines I l in the formof loops are employed. The cor s are looped diametrically over theonepiece canopy I0 and are stitchedthereto along the lines of contact.The two depending ends of each loop cord H are brought together at apredetermined distance below the canopy and tied to the suspension cordI! in the usual manner. This construction eliminates the necessity of aknotted connection between the individual shrouds I l and the canopy l0,thus saving considerable time which would ordinarily be employed ingathering and shaping at the points of attachment l 5 on the canopyskirt.

The shroud loops H are enclosed within pleats it by stitching 23 onopposite sides of the loops. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate one manner offastening the loops 2i within the folds of the single piece sail ID.This assembly provides adequate reinforcement for the canopy and asturdy means for retaining the shroud loops in their proper positions.In Fig. 6 one end of a shroudloop 2| is shown projecting beyond the edgeof the canopy. This cord preferably extends toa point below the centerof the canopy II) 'where it is tied to the suspension cord I! by a knotl3. However, it may project beyond the edge of the canopy Hi just farenough to be tied to a lighter shroud line H by anoverhand knot asillustrated in Fig. 6.

A slight variation permits the shroud loops to be attached alongnon-radial arcs to a canopy having the pattern illustrated in Fig. 4.

In a simpler form of construction shown in Figure 8, a single piececanopy is reinforced with several rows of radial or arcuate stitching23.

2 isle-ass Pleating is unnecessary as the reinforcingstitching isgenerally sufficient. The peripheral portions 24 of the canopy nearthestitching 23 are then gathered and shaped to create a shroudanchorage 25. Shrouds or stays ll then may be tied to this anchorage 25.'Thls modification has the advantage in that it is the quickest andcheapest to manufacture and yet is capable of reinforcing the canopy. towithstand the tension applied to it by the forces exerted by theshrouds.

It will be understood that the embodiments herein described are merelyillustrative of the invention and that the invention is limited only bythe terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A paper parachute canopy comprising rows of stitched reinforcement atthe edges thereof, said edges being gathered at the reinforcement atspaced intervals to form shroud attaching portions.

2. A one-piece parachute canopy comprising rows of stitchedreinforcement terminating at the edges thereof and substantiallyperpendicua crumpled. attenuated margin section including saidreinforcements conforming to a single bigdht for interlockingengagementwith a shroud en 4. A onc-piecepaper parachute canopycomprising. rows of stitched reinforcing folds atspaced intervals aroundthe edge of said canopy to anchor shroud lines. I

5. A single piece paper canopy comprising in- 10 tersecting rows ofstitched reinforcing pleats is one-piece paper sail,- and rows ofstitched reinforcing folds having shroud loops sewed within. 7. Aparachute for military pyrotechnics com .prising a one-piece papercanopy. intersecting rows of stitched reinforcing pleats on said can- 20opy. and an unbroken shroud line passing longi- 25 pleats on saidcanopy, and a shroud passing longitudinally through each pleat andprojecting beyond the edge of said canopy.

JAMES H. ROBINSON.

